Pressure-starting vapor heating system



March 3, 1942. P. B. PARKS PRESSURE-STARTING VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1'7, 1940 March 3, 1942. PARKS. 2,274,736

PRESSURE-STARTING VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 17, 1940 4Sheets-=Sheet 2 QWW. AW

Mar-c113, 1942. .5, B, PARK 2,274,736

PRESSURE-STARTING VAPOR HEATING SY STEM Filed May 17, 1940 I4Sheets-Sheet 3 March 3, 1942. P. B. PARKS 2,274,736

I PRESSURE-STARTING VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 17, 1940 4Sheets-Shet 4 rn'lrenm Pau/ @1745 m 6 JW Patent ed I Mar. 3, 1942 PaulB. Parks, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Vapor Car Heating Company, Inc.,Chicago, 11]., a corporation of New York Application May 11, 1940,Serial No. 335,721

Claims.

This invention relates to a pressure-starting vapor heating system, moreparticularly a steam heating system designed to rapidly fill theradiator with steam under a predetermined low but super-atmosphericpressure when the radiator inlet valve is first opened, and subsequentlyto keep the radiator filled with steam at substantially atmosphericpressure until the valve ,is'

again closed.

This system c! heating is basicallya reserve volume systemv designed toovercome unequal heat distribution over the surface of asteam radiatorin air-conditioning apparatus where the radiator is positioned in thepath of an air stream and 'it is essential that all parts of theradiator be equally heated at any one time to insure an equaldistribution of heat to all parts of the air stream flowing thereover.This system is especially designed for use in a system where fast actingor cycling thermostats are used, that is artificial heat is applied tothe thermostat so that the on and oil cycles of the valve will befrequent. Due to the fact that, in railway cars especially, a very rapidaction of the thermostat is necessary to prevent high and low swing inthe temperatures, the radiators do not in many cases receive steam fastenough at the start of the on cycle and only a portion of the radiatoris filled with steam. This causes stratifi'cation or ununiformdistribution of the heated air.

With this new system of heating a radiator, steam is stored up in thefeed conduit connections to the radiator (which conduit may for thisreason have an enlarged capacity) at a predetermined pressure and volumeto assurea complete filling of the radiator with dry steam the instantthe radiator valve opens. As soon as this initial filling isaccomplished, the system may return to the ordinary vapor system"operation governed by the steam and condensate returning to the vaporregulator from the radiator. The principal distinguishing feature ofthis new system over the ordinary vapor heating system is that theradiator is filled immediately with steam assoon as the radiator inletvalve is opened.

The prinipal object of this invention is to provide a newpressure-starting vapor heating system of the type briefly describedhereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications whichfollow.

Another object is to provide means for maintaining and storing aquantity of steam under a low but super-atmospheric pressure, suilicientt. quickly an opened.

Another object is to provide means, cooperata radiator when the 1111avalve 1'.

ing with the steam-storage means, for keeping the radiator filled withsteam at atmospheric pressure after the radiator is initially filled anduntil the valve is again closed.

Another object is to provide improved means for automatically reducingthe pressure of steam I supplied to a radiator from a high pressuresource so that this steam will be initially introduced into the radiatorin a suflicient volume and under a sufiicient pressure to quickly fillthe radiator, and the steam supply in the radiator will be subsequentlyreplenished under a lower pressure and at a rate just sufficient to keepthe radiator filledwith steam.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description of one approved apparatuscombination constructed, assembled and operating according to theprinciples "of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 isadiagrammatic elevation of provedheating system.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram for the thermostatic control mechanism of theradiator inlet valve.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical section through thevapor-regulator, this view being taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section through the improvedradiator-inlet valve.

Fig. 5 is acentral vertical section through the this limit valve, theview being taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring first to the general assembly shown in Fig. 1, the improvedheating system comprises the main source of high pressure steam A whichdelivers steam through suitable valve connections adapted to, reduce thepressure of the steam to the main .regulator B which supplies steam tothe radiator C through the thermostatically con trolled inlet valveD-and the feed and storage connections indicated generally at E. Theinlet valve D may be controlled by the thermostat'F.

one end portion or arailway car equipped with the im= The steamregulator B is controlled by the pressure-limit switch G when thestorage conduit E is being filled with steam, and is controlled by steamand condensate returned from the radiator through return main H whenoperating as a vapor system. All condensate is drained out through thedrip connection indicated at. J.

The car structure indicated in Fig. 1 comprises the floor l, outer walls2, and vertical partitions 3 adapted to separate the severalcompartments or spaces 4. The conduit 5 extends throughout the length ofthe upper portion of the car, the heating radiator C being mounted inthis conduit, as well as the heat-transfer device Kof a cooling system,not otherwise disclosed herein. The blower indicated at L and alsopositioned in the conduit 5 draws in air through the 'fresh air inletopening 5, and the returned air'inlet opening 1 (these inlets beingcontrolled by suitable valves, not here shown in detail) and forces thisair through the conduit 5 in contact with the heating regulator C (oralternatively with the cooling device K), this air being dischargedthrough the several grilled outlets 8 into the compartments 4 of thecar. The thermostat F which controls the inlet valve D of the radiator Cis preferably located at some suitable position in conduit 5.

The source of steam A, as here shown, is the main train-pipewhichextends throughout the length of the train and is supplied withsteam from the locomotive. Theteam in this pipe will stem 21 tends tomove valve 23 toward the open position shown in Fig. 3.

Athermostatic member indicated generally at 28 is housed in a chamber 29formed in a sepanormally be under a rather high pressure, for

example 250 pounds. A branch supply pipe 9 leads from train pipe A'tothe main inlet port of the steam regulator B. i In this pipe 9 islocated a main cut-off valve 19 which will normally be open, and areducing valve ll adapted to materially reduce the pressure of the steamsupply to the regulator B, for example to about twenty pounds per squareinch.

The steam-regulator B operates similarly to so-called vapor regulatorsalready known in the art, except that this regulator is preferably muchmore delicate in its operation so that the main control valve will notordinarily be moved abruptly from a fully closed to a fully openposition but maybe adjusted to selected partially closed positions so asto modulate or reduce the steam flow through the regulator withoutentirely opening or closing the valve. The improved regulator aspartially shown in Fig. 3 is substanpipe 20 (Fig. 1) leading to thepressure-limit valve G. Steam also flows from outlet chamber l8 througha second port similar to l9 but disposed in the opposite wall of thechamber and thence through pipe 2| to the .conduit connections E leadingtoradiator inlet valve D. The

movable valve member 23 is guided in cage 24 so as to engage andcooperate with valve seat 25 at the outlet end of passage [1 to cut oil.the flow of steam from inlet chamber [4 to outlet chamber I8. The spring26 surrounding valve pipe 42.

rate casing 30 provided with a plurality 'of outside radiating ribs 3|so as to expedite the lowering of the temperature around thethermostatic member when steam is no longer admitted to the thermostatchamber 29. Thermostatic member 29 comprises an outer bellows diaphragm32 and contains a quantity of heat-responsive fluid so that when thethermostatic member is directly exposed to steam it will expand therebyforcing outwardly (to the ri ht Fig. 3) the stem 33 which projectsthrough .a sealing member 34 and engages at its outer end the lower arm35 of a lever adjustably pivoted intermediate its length at 36.

The upper arm 31 of this lever is adapted to engage and push inwardly(toward the left Fig. 3) the stem 38 which projects into sealing member39 and is adapted to engage valvestem 21 and force the valve 23 towardits seat against the opposition of spring 26. When this heating systemis functioning like the usual vapor system, this regulator will functionlike the usual vaporregulator, that is, after the radiator C has beenfilled with steam the excess steam will flow back through the returnmain H and pipe 40 into the inlet port 4! of thermostat chamber 29, thesteam acting on the thermostatic member 28 to expand this member andthereby close or partially close the valve 23. In this present improvedsystem steam may also flow from chamber I8 of the vapor-regulator Bthrough pipe 29 to the pressure-limit switch G and thence through pipe42, Y-connection 43 and pipe 40 into the thermostatic chamber 29 so asto actuate the thermostatic bellows 32. In either case, all condensateflowing into the thermostatic chamber 29 flows out through a portopposite the port 4| and thence through pipe 44 into and through thedrip connection J i which is preferably protected by outside insulation45.

The improved pressure-limit valve G (see Figs. 1, 7 and 8) comprises amain casing 45 formed atopposite ends and at one side with three alternative threaded ports 47, 48 and 49 all leading into or fromthe'steam chamber 59 separated by internal web 5| from the upper outletsteam chamber 52. In the example here shown pipe 29 is threaded into'theport 49. The other two ports 41 and 49 are closed by suitable plugs 53.Alternatively, this pressure-limit valve might be inserted midway thelength of the pipe without interfering with the free flow of steamthrough this pipe, in which case the two sections of the pipe would beconnected in the opposite pair of ports 41 and 49. The pipe 42 leadsfrom the outlet port 54 of the upper steam chamber 52 (Fig.- .8) downinto the Y-connection 43 and thence into the'regulator B (Fig. l), asalready declosed at its lower end by the perforated strainer 58 andformed at its upper end with valve seat 59. Open'passages 50 in thesides of cage permit steam to flow from passage 51 into the upper steamchamber 52 and thence out through The valve 6| which cooperates withvalve seat 59 is carried by valve stem 62 slidable through guide-plug 63mounted in the upper end of cage 55.

The upper end of valve casing 46 is closed by the solenoid-casing 84clamped in place by screw bolts 86 against the interposed gasket 66. Thecasing- 64 encloses the solenoid coil 61 surrounding the guide-tube 68held in place at its lower tending from the respective ends of coil 61pro- Ject out through passage into a side extension I8 of casing 64 andconnect with the electric terminal member 11 having plugs I8 and 19projecting downwardly'therefrom. The outer electric plug member 88 hassockets to receive the terminals I8 and I9 and is held in place withincasing extension 16 by the removable nut 8i.

The strength of spring 'II will be so selected or adjusted that thevalve 6| will be held down against seat 59 until a predetermined steampressure, for example ten pounds to the square inch, is built up in thelower steam chamber 58 which pressure will correspond with the pressurein outlet chamber I8 of the steam regulator. As the steam pressure risesabove this predetermined pressure the valve 6| will be lifted from itsseat against the opposition of spring 'II so as to admit steam into theupper chamber 52 from which chamber this steam will flow through pipes42, 43

and 48 into the thermostat chamber of the regulator B. Preferably thespring II is of such a type that the spring-load will increase rapidlyas the spring is compressed, consequently the valve 6I will only belifted slightly from its seat so as to permit only a restricted flow ofsteam through the conduit hereinabove described to the thermostatchamber of the regulator. As a consequence the thermostatic bellows willonly be slightly expanded so as to only partially close the valve 23 anddecrease the flow of steam into chamber I8. The parts will quicklyassume a balanced position in which valve 23 is, only opened cluding thesupply and storage conduit E, hereinafter described.

It will now be apparent that as long as no steam is returning throughmain. H from the radiator to control the regulator E and as long assolenoid 81 remains deenergized, the valve 23 of the regulator 18 willremain open admittingsteam to the regulator chamber I8 and the feedpipes28 and 2I fed therefrom until the pressure ll will be drawnupwardly andvalve 6] will be continuously open. In that event there will be a smallcontinuous flow of steam through this shunt conduit so as to maintainthe regulator Bsubstantially closed and the heating system will besubstantially inoperative. 1

The improved radiator-inlet valve D will now be described, referringmore particularly to Figs. land 4. The main casing 82 of this valvehouses an inlet chamber 83 closed at its lower end by a screw plug 84and provided with a side inlet port 85 into which is fitted thedischarge end of the feed or supply pipe E. A passage 88 leads fromchamber 83 into the outlet chamber 81, the movable valve member88'cooperating with valve seat 89 at the discharge end of passage 86 tocut oif the flow of steam through the valve. The outlet pipe 89 leadingto radiator C (Fig. 1) connects into the outlet port 98 at one side ofoutlet chamber 81. The upper end of chamber 8i is closed by thesolenoid-casing 9| clamped in place against gasket 92 by the bolts 93.The solenoid coil 94 is mounted within casing 9i, and the circuit wires95 and-96 leading from the respective ends of this coil extend throughsuitable fittings within the casing extension 91, all sub stantially thesame as already described in connection with the pressure limit switchof Fig. '7.

The valve 88 is carried at the lower end of valve stem 98 secured at itsupper end 99 inthe lower end of core I88 which is drawn up into thesolenoid through guide-tube I8I when the solenoid coil 94 is energized.The compression sprin I82 confined between the-screw plug I83 at thelower end of the solenoid assembly, and the collar I84 at the lower endof core I88 functions to close the valve 88 against its seat 89 when thesolenoid is deenergized. While this valve .will normally be controlledby the-spring and. sole--' noid as just described, the ;valve may alsobe manually operated by means comprisingthe discv I85 mounted withinchamber 81 on shaft I86 I provided outside the valve casing with ahandle I81. (Fig. 1). Disc I85 is provided with an arcuate slot I88 intowhich projects the flange I89 at the lower end of the core assembly.Disc I86 is provided at the side opposite recess I88 with three notchesor recesses II8, III and H2 into oneof which projects the locking pin H3slidable in the guide bearing H4 and pushed inswardly by the spring II5confined within plug II8. When disc I85 is in the central position shownin Fig. 4; the valve assembly is operated by the spring and solenoid,the flange I89 reciprocating freely within arcuate slot I98. If the discI85 is manually rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) until lockingpin II3 has snapped over into notch II2, the shoulder III at one end inthese conduits rises to the predetermined presv sure, for example tenpounds, after which the pressure limit valve G will operateautomatically to permit a limited flow of steam to the thermostat of theregulator B and thus cut down the steam supply so as to limit thepressure in chamber I8 and the pipes fed therefrom to this predeterminedlow pressure. When there is an unrestricted outflow of steam throughpipe 2| and the feed conduit E and valve D as hereinafter explained,this supply pressure will never rise to ten pounds so that the shuntconduit through the limit valve G will remain closed and -the regulatorB will be entirely under the control of fluids returned from theregulator through return main H. II, at any time, the solenoid 81 isenergized (as hereinafter described) the core of slot I88 will engagethe flange I89 and lift the core and valve assembly so as to open thevalve against the resistance of spring I82 and lock the parts in thisposition. On the other hand, if the disc I is rotated in thecounterclockwise direction the shoulder II8 at the other end of slot I88will engagethe flange I89 and lock the valve in closed position. Thisvalve is also disclosed and claimed in the copending application ofParks and Peterson, Serial No. 335,719, filed May 17, 1940.

Reference will now be made to Fig. 2 which shows by way of a wiringdiagram a suitable electrical apparatus for thermostatically controllingthe valve D. The thermostat F is of the cycling type, that is it isprovided with an auxiliary source of heat H9 which is energized statswitch after it has been opened by a drop in temperature in the spaceenclosing the thermostat, after which the auxiliary heating coil H9 isimmediately de-energized so as to permit the thermostat switch to againopen. The mercury-tube thermostat comprises a mercury column I 20 whichwill always be in engagement with a lower fixed contact I2I and whichwill engage an upper contact I22 at some predetermined highertemperature.

The relay-coil I23 is normally energized through the following circuit:From power main I24 through wire I25, resistance I26,'relay terminal I21, relay coil I23, relay terminal I28, resistance I29, and wire I30 tothe other power main I3I. When the relay coil I23 is thus energized, itwill draw up the core I32 so' as to close the pair of switches I33 andI34. The closing of switch I33 will function to open the valve D byenergizing the solenoid coil 94 through the following circuit: Frompower main I24 through wires I25 and I35, switch I33, wire 95, coil 94,and wire 96 to the other power main I3I. This will draw in the core Iand open the valve 88 against the resistance of spring I02. Since steamis now being admitted to the radiator C, the air forced through conduitby blower L will be heated and the thermostat F would eventually respondby raising the mercury column I20 into engagement with the upper fixedcontact I22. However, this action of the thermostat will be expeditedbecause the auxiliary heating coil II9 will, simultaneously with theopening of valve 88, be energized through the following circuit: Frommain I24 through wire I36, heating coil II9, wire I31, resistance I30,wire I39, switch I34, and wire I40 to the other power main 'I 3I. Theauxiliary heat from coil I I9 will cause the mercury column I20 toquickly rise into engagement with the upper thermostat contact I22 thusclosing a circuit deenergizing the relay as follows: From one relayterminal I21 through wire I, thermostat contact I2I, mercury column I20,thermostat contact and wire I42 to the other, relay terminal I28. Sincethe relay is now deenergized, the core I32 and th switch contactscarried thereby will drop to the position shown in Fig. 2 thus openingthe switches I33 and I34. The opening of switch I33 will deenergize thesolenoid 94 and permit spring I02 to close the valve 88 thus cutting offthe further flow of steam to the radiator C. At the same time theopening of switch I34 will deenergize the heating coil II9 so that thetemerature of the air in conduit 5 (which we assume is not yetsufilciently heated) will cause the mercury column I20 to drop thusagain opening the shunt circuit and permitting the energization, of therelay to again close the switches I33 and I34. This cycling action willrepeat itself until the desired temperature is reached in the airstream, the radiator C being repeatedly filled with bursts of steam butthe radiator being filled at less frequent intervals as the desiredtemperature is approached.

The successful operation of such a heating system necessitates theprompt filling of radiator C when valve D is opened since the valveremains open for only a short period of time. In order to accomplishthis quick filling of the radiator.

the large capacity inlet conduit E is provided cooperating with thepressure-limit valve G. Since the steam regulator B will usually bepositioned beneath the car whereas the radiator C at such times as toquickly re-close the thermoso that there will be little condensation andlittle loss of steam from this portion of the system. Assuming now thatthe valve D is closed and that there is-no further return of steam fromthe radiator through return main H, the regulator valve 23'will open soas to admit steam from the source A into supply chamber I8 and thencethrough pipe 2| and water-seal M into the supply conduit E. Steam willsimultaneously flow through pipe 20 into the inlet chamber of thepressure-limit valve G. This fiow of steam will continue until the inletconduit E has been completely filled with steam at a.predetermined'pressure, for example ten pounds. When this predeterminedpressure is reached, the pressure-limit valve G will open so as topermit a limited flow of steam through pipe 42 back to the thermostatchamber 29 of the regulator, whereupon the thermostat 28 will func--tion to partially close valve 23. Thereafter cling system hereinabovedescribed, the supply of-steam stored in conduit system E under theadequate pressure hereinabove referred to will rapidly flow into andfill the radiator C. Of course, the pressure in the supply. conduitsystem will drop as soon as this stored volume of steam has flowed intothe radiator, and valve G will completely close so as to cut off-furtherfiow of steam from this control valve into the thermostat chamber ofregulator B. As a consequence the regulator valve 23 will remaincomletely open to permit additional flow of steam into the supplyconduit E but as soon as radiator C has been filled with steam and steamhas returned through pipe H to the thermostat chamber of the regulator,the valve E of the regulator B will be partially closed and thereafterthe system will operate at substantially atmospheric pressure as in theusual vapor-heating system. As soon as valve D has again closed, by theaction of the cycling thermostat F, the outflow of excess steam throughreturn conduit 1-1 will cease and valve 23 of the regulator will remainopen until the conduit system E is again stored with steam at thepredetermined ten pound pressure after which limit switch G will againfunction to permit sufficient steam to flow back to the thermostatchamber of the regulator B to throttle the main inlet valve 23. Theabove described cycle of events will then repeat itself. It will benoted that there will always be sufiicient steam stored up in theconduit system E to instantly fill the radiator C when valve D isopened.

Referring now again to Fig. 2, at N is indicated a ma n control switchcomprising a lever I44 movable to three different positions in one ofwhich the heating system is operative, in another the cooling system,and in a third intermediate position marked off" the blower Lwill beoperative for ventilation purposes only. It will be tact I44, and wireI48 to the other power main I3 I. It will be obvious that the samecircuit will be closed when movable contact I44 is moved into engagementwith the cooling contact I45. In either case the solenoid 81 of theswitch G will be energized so as to hold the valve 6I open continuouslyand steam will fiow through the shunt cir-. cuit from regulator Bthrough valve G back to the thermostat chamber of regulator-B and theregulator valve 23 will be held closed except for just suflicient steamflow through this shunt piping to keep the thermostat 28' expanded. Atsuch times there can be no fiow of steam through the heating systemcomprising supply and storage pipe E, radiator C and return main H. Itwill be noted that when movable contact I44 of valve N is moved overinto engagement with the heating contact I49, the circuit just describedfor energizing the solenoid of valve G cannot be closed and valve D willoperate entirely under the con trol of the spring", as originallydescribed.

Referring now to Figs. -1, and 6, the waterseal member M comprises amain casting I50 enclosing a steam chamber I5I having aligned ports I52and I53 in opposite sides thereof into which are fitted respectively theoutlet end'of supply pipe 2| leading from the regulator B, and a closureplug I54. A depressed central portion I58 of the casing I50, closed atthe bottom by removable plug I56, serves to hold an accumulated pool ofcondensate I51. A cup-shaped web I58 open at its lower end I59 below thelevel 'of pool I81, projects downwardly from the upper portion ofcasting I50 within the steam chamber I5I, this web enclosing a centraloutlet chamber I80 having an upper outlet port I8I into which the lowerend of conduit E is secured. A small vacuumbreaking vent I62 is formedin one side wall of web I58 above the water level of the pool andconnecting the inner and outer steam chambers I5I' and I60. The functionof this water-seal M is to prevent undesired heating and the retentionof steam in the conduit E when the valve D is closed for anyconsiderable length of time, for example when the heating system is notin operation. While the heating system is operating, that is the valve Dis being opened and closed at frequent intervals by the cyclingthermostat F, then the water-seal member M will have no substantialeffect on the flow of steam as hereinabove first described. However, ifthe valve D remains closed, the steam in conduit E will eventuallycondense and'the water from the water-seal heating system functions muchthe same asan.

Y C has once been filled with steam. The principal ter-seal mechanism isnot claimed herein, but is disclosed and claimed in the'copendingapplication of Parks and .Stenzel, Serial No. 335,720, filed of evendate herewith.

It will nowbe understood that this improved ordinary vapor-heatingsystem after the radiator improvement resides in adding means forstoring -up a suflicient quantity of steam, under sufilcient pressure,to almost instantly fill the radiator with steam once the radiator inletvalve is opened. Thereafter the system operates as a vapor-system untilthe inlet valve is again closed. In-a cycling system of the type hereindisclosed it is essential that the radiator be completely filled withsteam, as rapidly as possible, so as to avoid stratification or unequalheating of the air stream flowing in contact with the radiator, and

it is also necessary to fill the radiator quickly since the on periodlasts for only a short time. That is, the inlet valve is opened andclosed at frequent intervals so that the steam flow does not continuallypersist for any great length of time and only bursts" of steam areadmitted to the radiator. It is essential that each of these bursts beof sufilcient volume and under suflluse employ a thermostat in theairdelivery duct adapted when the temperature falls to about 60 Fahrenheitto shut off the blower fan, with the assumption that this will only takeplace when the car is taken out of service. Sometimes, however, due tothe slow feeding of steam to the radiators. this thermostat willfunction to stop the blower fan even while the car is still in serviceand the heating system is intended to be in operation. This ill-timedstopping of the blower fan is even more apt to take place when a"cycling system is used which requires frequent re-filling of theradiator. The present improved system, which acts to almost instantlyfill the radiator as soon as the inlet valve is opened, effectivelyavoids this failure of the blowerfan.

In brief, this novel heating system starts off as a pressure system, andthen, after the pressure disappears, acts as an ordinary vapor-system.

The system is thus provided'with a fast-feeding radiator that-workseffectively in conjunction with a fast-acting thermostat so as to insurea completely filled radiator at all times that this condition isdesired. a

I claim:

1. In a steam heating system, a radiator, an inlet valve for theradiator, thermostatic means responsive to temperature changes in thespace heated for alternately opening and closing said .valve at shortintervals until. a predetermined temperature is reached, a source ofhigh pressure steam, a regulator means receiving steam from the source,and conduit connections. between the regulator means and inlet valvehaving a capacity sufilcient to store enough steam to rapidly fill theradiator immediately the valve is opened, said regulator meansfunctioning to fill these conduit connections with steam under a low butsuperatmospheric pressure while the inlet valve is,

2. In a steam heating system, a radiator, an

inlet valve for the radiator, thermostatic means responsive totemperature changes in the space heated for alternately opening andclosing said valve at short intervals until a predetermined vtemperature is reached, a source of high pressure steam, a regulatormeans receiving steam from the source. and conduit connections betweenthe regulator means and inlet valve having a capacity suificient tostore enough steam to rapidly fill the radiator immediately the valve isopened, said regulator means functioning to fill these conduitconnections with steam under a low but superthe valve toward open orclosed positions as the I thermostat contracts or expands respectivelyin the presence of steam, and a pair of separate conduit systems forconducting steam between the supply chamber and the thermostat chamber,one system comprising, in order, a steam storage conduit having acapacity sufiicient to hold enough steam to quickly fill the radiatorwith steam at atmospheric pressure, a radiator inlet valve, a radiatorand a return pipe, and the other system including a valve opening onlywhen the pressure in the supply chamber exceeds a predetermined maximum,and means comprising a cycling thermostat responsive to temperaturechanges in the space heated for opening and closing the radiator inletvalve at frequent intervals until a predetermined temperature isreached.

4. In a pressure-starting vapor heating system, a source of steam, aregulator comprising a supply chamber, a valve for controlling the flowof steam from the source to the supply chamber, a thermostat chamber, athermostatic member in this chamber adapted to move the valve towardopen or closed positions, a radiator, an inlet valve at said radiator,means for alternately opening and closing said inlet valve at shortintervals in accordance with; the heat requirement in the limiting valvein this conduit which opens under the predetermined pressure.

5. In a pressure-starting vapor heating system, a source of steam, aregulator comprising a supply chamber, a valve for controlling the flowof steam from the source to the supply chamber, a thermostat chamber. athermostatic member in this chamber adapted to move the valve towardopen or closed positions, a radiator, an inlet valve at said radiator,means for alternately opening and closing said inlet valve at shortintervals in accordance with the heat requirement in the space heated bythe radiator, a supply conduit including a reserve steam supply-tankbetween the supply chamber of the regulator and the inlet valve, said.conduit having a capacity sufficient to hold enough steam under apredetermined super-atmospheric pressure to rapidly fill the radiatorimmediately after the inlet valve is opened, a return pipe leading fromthe radiator to the thermostat chamber, a conduit leading directly fromthe supply chamber of the regulator .to the thermostatic chamber, and alimiting valve this chamber adapted to move the valve toward open orclosed positions, a radiator, an inlet valve at said radiator, meansincluding a cycling thermostat for alternately opening and closing saidlnlet valve to intermittently fill the radiator with steam in accordancewith the heat requirement in the space heated by the radiator until apredetermined space temperature is reached, a supply conduit between thesupply chamber of the regulator and the inlet valve, said conduit havinga capacity suflicient to hold enough steam under a predeterminedpressure to rapidly fill the radiator immediately after the inlet valveis opened, a return pipe leading from theradiator to the thermostatchamber, a conduit leading directly from the supply chamber of theregulator to the thermostatic chamber, and a limiting valve in thisconduit which opens under the predetermined pressure.

7. In apressure-starting vapor heating system,'a source of steam, aregulator comprising a supply chamber, a valve for controlling the flowof steam from the source to the supply chamber, a thermostat chamber, athermostatic member in this chamber adapted to move the valve towardopen or closed positions, a radiator, an inlet valve at said radiator,means for alternately opening and closing said inlet valve at shortintervals in accordance with the heat requirement in the space heated bythe radiator, a supply conduit between the supply chamber of theregulator and the inlet valve, said conduit having a capacity sufficientto hold enough steam under a predetermined pressure to rapidly fill theradiator immediately after the inlet valve is opened, a return pipeleading from the radiator to the thermostat chamber, a conduit leadingdirectly from the supply chamber of the regulator to the thermostaticchamber, a, limiting valve in this conduit which opens under thepredetermined pressure and control means for holding said limiting valvein open position when the heating system is not in service.

8. In a pressure-starting vapor heating system, a source of steam, aregulator comprising a supply chamber, a' valve for controlling the fiowof steam from the source to the supply chamber, a thermostat chamber, athermostatic member in this chamber adapted to move the valve towardopen or closed positions, a radiator, an inlet valve at said radiator,means for alternately opening and closing said inlet valve at shortintervals in accordance with the heat requirement in the space heated bythe radiator, a, supply conduit between the supply chamber of theregulator and the inlet valve, said conduit having a capacity suflicientto hold enough steam under a predetermined pressure to rapidly fill theradiator immediately after the inlet valve is opened, a remostaticchamber, a limiting valve in this conduit which opens under thepredetermined pressure, a master control switch, and electrically ac--tuated means for holding said limiting valve open when the switch isadjusted to render the heating system inoperative.

9. In a steam heating system, a conduit, 1;. radiator in this conduit,means for forcing an air stream through the conduit in contact with theradiator, an inlet valve for the radiator, means for opening and closingthe inlet valve at fre-' quent intervals until a predetermined airstream temperature is reached, a source, of steam, a regulatorcomprising a supply chamber, a valve controlling the flow of steam fromthe source to the supply chamber, a thermostat chamber, a thermostaticmember in the chamber, and connections for moving the valve toward openor closed positions as the thermostatic member contracts or expandsrespectively, and a pair of separate conduit systems between the supplychamber and the thermostat chamber, one system comprising,

in order, a steam storage conduit located outa valve opening only whenthe pressure in the supply chamber exceeds a predetermined maximum.

10. In a steam heating system. a conduit, a radiator in this conduit,means for forcing an air stream through the conduit in contact with theradiator, an inlet valve for the radiator, means comprising a thermostatin'the path of the heated air stream and means for artificially heatingthe her and the thermostat chamber, one system comprising, in order, asteam storage conduit located outside the air-conduit, said conduithaving a, capacity sufilcient to hold enough steam under a predeterminedsuper-atmospheric pressure to rapidly fill the radiator immediatelyafter the inlet valve is opened, the inlet valve and radiator, and areturn pipe, and the other system including a valve opening only whenthe pressure in the supply chamber exceeds a predetermined maximum.

PAUL B. PARKS.

CERTIFICATE QR CORRECTION.

Pate nt ho. 2,27 -b756- March 5, 19 142.

PAUL B. PARKS It is hereby certified that error' appears in the printedSpecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows: Page 6, sec- 0nd column, line 11., c1aim5, before "pressure"strike 'out "super-atmoapheric" and insert the same after"predetermined" in line 28, claim '6; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the'same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed. this 28th day of April, A. D. 1912.

Henry Van Arsdale, (seal) Acting qonimiasiomr of Patents.

